Improvement in hitching-posts



J. 0. PEPPLER. Hitching-Posts.

Patented Oct; 22,1878.

2 j No. 209,288.

2 1112 726386): 2 y Y I N-FEYERS. PHGTO-LITHOGRAFNER, WASHINGTON D CUNITED ST TE s PATENT IJOHN"G.'PEPPLIER, or ooL us, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HlTCHlNG-P OSTS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,283, datedOctober 22, 1878; application filed 1'. July 8, 1878. p

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. PEPPLER, of the city of Columbus, in thecounty of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Hitching-Posts; and I do hereby declare the followingspecification to be a full, clear, exact, and particular description ofthe same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying the same, andforming a part thereof, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of hitch.- ing-posts which may belowered at will into sockets set in the ground, so as to be out of theway.

The object of this invention is to provide such posts with convenientdevices, easily manipulated from above, whereby the said posts can belocked in their upwardly-extended or raised position, or allowed totelescope within the socket. Other devices have been used for the samepurpose; hence my claim is confined to the improvement used by me, orits substantial equivalents.

Another object of my invention is to prevent sudden shocks on the upperend of the socket. These objects and others are accomplished by theemployment of the devices hereinafter described, constructed andcombined substantially as set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of mysocket and hitching-post, when the latter is in its lowest position.Fig. 2 represents a vertical section (broken away at the bottom) of thehitchingpost and socket, when the former is locked in its raisedposition and Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the lower part ofthe socket, showing a modification of the loekin g device in its lowestposition.

In said drawings, A designates the cylindrical socket or tubular casing,within which slides similarly-shaped hollow hitching-post 13, providedat its upper end with cap' 0, and at the lower end with annular flangeh. Said cap and flange are detachable, allowing the separation of saidpost for repairs, &c. Both the said cap and flange are provided withscrew-threaded extensions, which screw into threads on the inside of theends of said tubular post, though other means of attachment may,obviously, be used. Gap 0 is extended and ridged on the under side ofits periphery,

aperture for the passage of vertical rod d,

which is provided on its upper end, above said cap, with a knob thatprevents it from falling too far. The lower end of said rod is connectedto and operates the inner end of bellcrank locking-lever g, the outerend of which sets within a groove, to, of said socket Awhen said leveris in its outward or looking position. The said locking-lever is pivotedby its angle to a lug, n, pendent from stop-flange h, which, as alreadystated, is attached to the post B, and therefore the said post is lockedin its raised position when the said locking-lever is thrown into theposition stated. The flange h engages with an ofi'set of socket A, andthus prevents said post from being raised too high for firm support.

W'hen it is desired to lower said post, the same is first slightlylifted, and then rod 01 is drawn upward, so as to free the outer end oflever g from engagement with groove to. The outer end of said lever isthen nearly vertical, and the weight of said post causes it to descendto the bottom of the socket A without impediment. When said post israised to its uppermost position, the weight of rod (1 and the inner endof lever y will operate so as to throw the outer end of said leverupward and outward into groove 0, thus automatically locking thedevices, as above stated. The knob on the upper end of rod' (1 insuresthis locking action by preventing said rod from passing down within thepost.

Instead of a single locking-lever, I may use a pair of them,operating inopposite directions, but inthe same vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 3.Various other changes may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

To prevent cap 0 and socket A from being injured by the sudden shock ofthe fall of post B, I insert an annular pad or cushion, r, preferably ofindia-rubber, in a recess in the upper end of socket A, surrounding postB.

This pad extends sufficiently above the upper end of said socket toreceive theimpact of head a when said post falls and break the shock.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to" secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hitching-post, the combination of socket A, having groove a,with tubular post B, locking bell-crank lever g, and rod d,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The stop-flange h, in combination with post B and socket A, saidsocket being provided with an offset or shoulder for engagement withsaid flange, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a sliding post and recessed socket, an annularcushion fixed in the upper end of said socket to prevent shocks.

4.111 combination with socket A and sliding post B, cap c, and flange h,detachable at will from said post, so as to allow its removal forrepairs and cleansing and the separation of the parts.

JOHN C. PEPPLER. Witnesses:

JOHN P. REMMY, H. SCHMIETT.

